Nikolay Rusanov Dredger under construction by order of FSUE “Rosmorport” for operation at Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal set afloat
On October 10, a solemn ceremony of launching a new high-performance non-self-propelled cutter-dredger Nikolay Rusanov of the FPDG3 project took place in the Astrakhan Region. The vessel is being built by Stroyliderplus LLC by order of FSUE “Rosmorport” for operation on the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (VCSSC).
The event was attended by Vitaly Shchepin, Acting Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy of the Astrakhan Region, FSUE “Rosmorport” was represented by Yuri Michurov, Acting Director of the Astrakhan Branch, and Sergey Korovin, Head of the Department for Fleet Development and Construction of FSUE “Rosmorport”. Larisa Arkhipova, Deputy Director of the Astrakhan Branch, got the honorary right to be a godmother of the vessel.
Nikolay Rusanov dredging vessel is a walking non-self-propelled cutter-dredger with a ground pump. The vessel is being built for the needs of the Astrakhan Branch of the enterprise. Its main purpose is to maintain the specified depths in the marine part of the VCSSC, in the water areas and on approaches to seaports to ensure navigation safety.
The sea endurance of Nikolay Rusanov dredger for fuel, engine oil, fresh water and provisions supply is at least 7 days. The vessel hull is designed for heavy round-the-clock and year-round operation and long-term service. The bow and stern ends of the vessel have valances to improve the hydrodynamic characteristics of the hull during movement.
The non-self-propelled cutter-dredger is named after Nikolai Vasilyevich Rusanov, who served as head of the Astrakhan Port Maritime Administration until 2000. Nikolay Rusanov was among the initiators of the program for the revival of the Russian merchant fleet in the Caspian Sea, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the maintenance of year-round navigation and the development of the Astrakhan water transport hub.
Laying of the keel of the Nikolay Rusanov dredger took place in Astrakhan on September 23, 2022. The vessel is expected to be handed over to FSUE “Rosmorport” by the end of 2023 and to start operating at VCSSC in navigation period of 2024.
A large-scale project for the development of the VCSSC within the global task of ensuring the operation of the North-South international transport corridor is being implemented by FSUE “Rosmorport” in order to fulfill the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin on reaching an optimal canal draught of 4.5 m. At the moment, an unprecedented number of vessels are involved in dredging on the canal – 17 dredgers: 7 units of FSUE “Rosmorport” own dredging fleet and 10 ones attracted by the enterprise.
Main characteristics and main dimensions of the vessel
| Class of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping: |
Non-self-propelled KE* R3 Dredger or higher |
| Maximum length, not less than: | 55 m |
| Maximum width: | 12.5 m |
| Draught, not more than: | 2.1 m |
| Hull length, not less than: | 43 m |
| Freeboard height: | 2 m |
| Water capacity of the dredging plant, not less than: | 7,000 m3 per hour |
| Suction pipe diameter: | 650 mm – 800 mm |
| Pressure pipe diameter: | 650 mm – 800 mm |
| Minimum depth of excavation, not more than: | 3 m |
| Maximum depth of excavation: | 15 m |
| Maximum width of the slot at the maximum depth of excavation, not less than: | 50 m |
| Articulated pipe joint for floating ground pipe (length of ground pipe, not less than): | 800 m |
| Suction head: constant power on the cutter shaft, not less than: | 500 kW |
